The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-04-07
The Spring elections in Jackson and

The Spring elections in Jackson and
Lick township presented some funny
features, and leaves the Republicans
in disgustingly ridiculous light. The
temperance sentiment in Jackson
county has been growing and crystal
hzing for years, and had reached such
proportions that it was found impos-
sible to ignore it longer. The third
party vote was increasing rapidly, and
something had to be done to set the
grand old Republican party right be-
fore the people. The Gospel Temper
ance movement vas introduced, and
did much to unite the people on the
one line of temperance work. All
parties joined in the work, to some ex-
tent, and every body seemed to be in
earnest in the good work. tt is prop
er to say that the Republicans led off
in the matter.
Springing from this work was the
movement to secure local prohibition
through the provisions of the Dow
Law. Now, if there is anything more
than any other thing that we as Re-
publicans have dotted on and sat up
with, it is the Dow Law 1t was pre-
pared with great care to meet certain
demands of the people. It's tax-and-
protection feature was intended to
please the doggery interest, on the
one hand, while its prohibition or To-
cal option feature was intended to
please the temperance people. Thus
this double-edged arrangement was
thrust into the body polite, and the
result awaited with some degree of
anxiety. The temperance people ac-
cepted the situation. and determined
to secure all the benefits possible un-
der the law, which had been boasted
and praised before the people until it
seemed that the Republican heart was
firmly set uponsthis law.
But here came up a feature OF the
situation which the politicians had not
anticipated. They saw that the sem
timent in favor of sobriety and decen-
cy was too large to control, and a
frantic attempt was made to head the
thing off. When the citizens meet
ing was called, one or two of these
politicians appeared for the purpose of
breaking up the meeting-but failed
to get in their work. When the Re
publican Convention assembled, it was
discovered that common sense would
have to be used there also. Thus far,
the people were striving for the bene-
fits that the Republicans had constant
ly paraded before them in connection
with the Dow Law. But now came
the test. On election day, after the
Republican makers of the law had
nominated temperance men and he
publicans for Council, those who had
an ambition to be called political man
ayers Uoted the Democratic ticket, rath-
er than permit the people to have any
benefit from that law. We defeated
our oon lav at the polls, by voting
the Democratic ticket. There is the
situation, and it was brought about by
political idiocy and Halsteadian devil
try. Men voted against the Republi-
can candidates for Council who had
reasons therefor, and gave them in a
manly way But on the other hand
there was little knot of Republicans
who were ambitious to control politics
in this community, and if they could
not control, they would defeat. Some
of these men have held Office in the
party, and some are yet in office.
Friends, this is is not pleasant pic
ture. The only intelligent inference
is that the Republicans would sooner
have the Democratic party in power
than have the Internal liquor traffic
put down; that they admire the dog
gerry above the home; that they prefer
drunken carodsal to sobriety and re-
ligion; that they prefer the example
of Satan to that of Christ. We say
that is the conclusion. But we must
remember that this class Of Republi-
cans is very small, and that at least
four-fifths Of the grand old party in
Jackson county are in favor Of tenn
perance and decency. This fight is
not done away with yet. The work
has scarcely been retarded. The
grand temperance movement will go
right on, as though the local politi-
clans had not gone over to the Demo
oyratc